AUTHOR=Reem Nathan T. , Pogorelko Gennady , Lionetti Vincenzo , Chambers Lauran , Held Michael A. , Bellincampi Daniela , Zabotina Olga A. 

TITLE=Decreased Polysaccharide Feruloylation Compromises Plant Cell Wall Integrity and Increases Susceptibility to Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2016.00630

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2016.00630

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The complexity of cell wall composition and structure determines the strength, flexibility, and function of the primary cell wall in plants. However, the contribution of the various components to cell wall integrity (CWI) and function remains unclear. Modifications of cell wall composition can induce plant responses known as CWI control. In this study, we used transgenic expression of the fungal feruloyl esterase <italic>AnFAE</italic> to examine the effect of post-synthetic modification of <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> and <italic>Brachypodium</italic> cell walls. Transgenic <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> plants expressing <italic>AnFAE</italic> showed a significant reduction of monomeric ferulic acid, decreased amounts of wall-associated extensins, and increased susceptibility to <italic>Botrytis cinerea</italic>, compared with wild type. Transgenic <italic>Brachypodium</italic> showed reductions in monomeric and dimeric ferulic acids and increased susceptibility to <italic>Bipolaris sorokiniana.</italic> Upon infection, transgenic <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> and <italic>Brachypodium</italic> plants also showed increased expression of several defense-related genes compared with wild type. These results demonstrate a role, in both monocot and dicot plants, of polysaccharide feruloylation in plant CWI, which contributes to plant resistance to necrotrophic pathogens.</p>